Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms: Top Ten
If you are an avid coffee or energy drink consumer then you are aware of how addicting caffeinated beverages can be.
A few hours after missing your scheduled dose the caffeine withdrawal symptoms start to set in. Last year I did a caffeine detox and it wasn’t pretty for me nor the people I live with and it seems like the more caffeine a person consumes, the greater the intensity and duration of the withdrawal.
We decided to put together a list of the most common caffeine withdrawal symptoms so when you’re experiencing them, you’ll be comforted to know that you aren’t really dying but just detoxing from the caffeine. Also, for those who aren’t normally caffeine drinkers, these symptoms can be noticed after quitting caffeine even if it was only consumed for a few days in a row.
Top 10 Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
- Headache- A caffeine headache usually starts behind the eyes and then moves up the front of the head.
- Sleepiness- This just isn’t your normal tiredness, this is sitting up straight but still can’t keep your eyes open tiredness.
- Irritability- Everyone and everything gets on your last nerve. It’s best just to lock yourself in your room during this stage.
- Lethargy- Forget about productivity at this stage because you’ll be unmotivated to do anything.
- Constipation- Caffeine stimulates the bowel, so without its daily does the colon gets a little cranky too.
- Depression- Caffeine withdrawal can take away all hope for living. Temporary blues are one thing, but if you already struggle with depression this could be a big issue.
- Muscle Pain/Stiffness- If you normally have some caffeine prior to exercise then during caffeine withdrawal you could feel as though your muscles have weights strapped to them.
- Lack of Concentration- Forget school, studying, brain surgery, or jet engine repair during this stage of withdrawal.
- Flu-like symptoms- Stuffy nose, blocked sinuses and even vomiting have been reported by people withdrawing from caffeine.
- Insomnia- Some people are strange and actually can’t sleep when going through caffeine withdrawal.
Conclusions
Caffeine withdrawal isn’t a laughing matter and it, for sure, is a very unpleasant experience. Luckily these symptoms only last a few days to a week so there’s light at the end of the tunnel. However, even after the withdrawal period is over, I personally still never feel quite as good as I do when I’m drinking caffeine all of the time. This is most likely due to the changes that occur with the dopamine receptors in the brain because of caffeine. I guess mine might be forever altered.
Giving up Caffeine isn’t easy and the withdrawal symptoms aren’t pretty, but unless you’re giving up caffeine for medical reasons why would you ever want to?
How addicted to caffeine are/were you? You can take our Caffeine Addiction Diagnosis Quiz to see where you clocked in at. This may explain why the caffeine withdrawal has been so rough.
Have you experienced caffeine withdrawal symptoms that aren’t on the list above? Share them in the comments below.
163 Comments
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Ive been a caffeine addict for over ten years. was addicted to Xenedrine RFA. Every time i tried to get off them or ran out of doses i felt like a heroin addict going through withdraw.The FDA stopped that. I switched to a caffeine based formula. Fast forward to present. I was taking one natural guarana pill (supposed to be equivalent I cup of coffee) and would have some sweet tea throughout the day. My fiance and I decided to do a juice fast for a week while on vacation. Yesterday (first day)by 2PM it was like a scene from the Exorcist. I have never vomited like that before. Massive headache, cold chill and body aches. I though maybe something was wrong with the veg i was juicing. But after reading the above comments i am fairly convinced it is all to do with caffeine. If i can get off this drug i dont want to go through this again. If the FDA banned caffeine from markets can you imagine!!! I can see how people would do what it takes to get their hands on it.
Tried to kick the coffee habit, and had such a horrible reaction I had to go back to being a coffee drinker. I had every symptom named, and seriously thought I was going to die. Thank you for posting this article. It really helped me understand what was happening.
Just stopped yesterday.. feeling sleepy
Day two… terrible headache. nausea. fatigue. wanna hurt someone. this is terrible but Ihave to believe Ill be better for quitting. who knew I was this addicted to diet dew.
I stopped coffee in the mornings last week due to heart palpitations even though I only had 1 or 2 cups. Seems to have helped with the skipped beats but now I’m depressed and actually get worse sleep
I have been going through withdrawls since 12-3-11. The weird thing is that I only get the symptoms late Friday nights, all day Saturday, all day Sunday & half the day on Mondays.
I wasn’t trying to cut back on my coffee intake. Life just got a little hectic and I didn’t have the time to make or drink my cup of joe.
Last night has been the worse ever. I was shaking like a leaf, I had a fever, my body/muscles were aching and sweating all night long. I had to change my cloths 4 times thats how much I was sweating. I was experiencing all of these symptoms at the same time. I never knew that there was such a thing as caffeine withdrawl. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy it is not a good feeling.
Thank you for sharing your story I know now what is going on with my body.
Found your blog when I searched ‘caffeine withdrawal symptoms’ because I had to give up coffee- it was making me super sore and not letting me sleep enough! I’m on Day 2, but I also have the flu, so I don’t know what’s what, but I do have a lot of the symptoms. I hope they don’t last a whole week!!!
I had been drinking 12 cups coffee in morn and energy drinks in afternoon along with some coffee. I started feeling weird in my heart so started to cut the afternnon coffee and cut back on morn coffee also. I have been drinking coffee in morn for years just not that much. for 4 days I have had headaces,dizziness,lethargy,sleepiness,pain in ears,heaviness in heart at times,cold hot feelings, iritable,muscle spasms,nausea, and more Im sure. I have felt like I was gonna die for last three days. i didnt even connect the dots until a family member said caffeine withdrawl so i googled it and here I am. thanks for the comforting info. this sucks. feeling dizzy and irritable right now. get away from me.
I have had anxiety attacks and caffeine addition. All caffeine does is increases anxiety, stress, insomnia, and leads to panic attacks. My advice is to cut back very slowly on the caffeine intake, join a gym, and do things to keep your mind busy. If you feel really lousy and you know its the lack of caffeine, then have a little just to get over that exact moment, but do not over do it! It sucks I know, but stay positive and remember that it is all for the better!!! I wish everyone the best of luck and a HAPPY AND HEALTHIER NEW YEAR 2012!!!
I am giving up caffeine for medical reasons, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Aside from the sinus sensitivity and mild headache, the most aggravating part is the discomfort in my legs! It feels like I have the flu in my legs, or that I overdid it in a workout. I had cut back to one can of soda per day by 12/30 with no symptoms (aside from longing for one mentally). 12/31 was the first day without, and I started experiencing the leg pain that night. On 1/1, the pain was gone…YEAH!!! But last night I drank what I thought was a caffeine-free rootbeer and the leg pain resumed during my sleep. Hopefully it will pass as the day goes on. Best wishes to all on this same mission. We can do this!!!
Today is day 3 of no coffee and it’s the first day that I feel “good”. First and Second days I felt like my head was literally swimming and I wanted to curl up in a ball. I have been reducing my caffiene intake for years (drank 4+ cups a day in college and up until a year or two ago when I got it down to 1-2 cups a day). For the last 6 months I’ve been drinking half to one cup a day.
I’ve been drinking A LOT of decaf green tea in an attempt to trick my brain into thinking warm drink = feeling good.
Power through, you’ll make it.
Has anyone had ringing in the ears and dizziness? This started about two months ago and I’ve been off all caffeine for about three days. The ringing has gotten lower in volume but I’m still dizzy.
I’ve been taking these pills called “Thermo Complete” by Herbal Life on and off for a few years. I realised I had to detox from the energy substances in them. I’m now on day 3 and feel so tired and lazy. All I want to do is lie in bed and do nothing. I can’t even get motivated to do anything and feel so foggy headed.
Yesterday I had rage and anger! Caffeine is a serious drug! I can’t imagine what would happen if coffee was banned.
Hi I c theres alot of syptoms but the one I dont c is one that just started I am,having a.light headed feel almost like my head is spinning just woundering if thats a normal one
My entire family had the flu last week and so I didn’t really eat or drink much of anything… if I could it was water. They all got better but I felt worse and then it hit me suddenly – it has been 4 days since I’ve had a diet pepsi. I haven’t been able to sleep much – when I do I wake up soaked in sweat. I’m nauceous and dizzy and my stomach hurts. I really hope this doesn’t last much longer. Best of luck to everyone going through this with me.
I’m nearing day 60 of what appears to be an extended period of time to endure a painful caffeine withdrawal. After 33 years of incessant intake, I gave up coffee during Thanksgiving last year, totally cold turkey. Until that point in time, my daily “straight black” consumption was approximately (5) 24 oz. cups, weekends included. I am now completely caffeine free in my diet and yet torpid and listless conditions continue to impact my quality of life in so many facets. From being one of the most active people imaginable, all I now care to do is remove myself from everyone, lay down and try to sleep…yet insomnia has overwhelmed me so even that has been a struggle. Has anyone experienced a caffiene withdrawal duration to run this length of time? If so (and knowing that we’re all different), how long might I expect these symptoms to last? I just read the book “Caffeine Blues”, which I highly recommend and can’t wait to know the feeling of living a life that is 100% caffeine free. Hopefully I’m almost there.
I wasnt trying to kick caffeine, i just simply ran out of caffeinated drinks and the second day in i had a horrible migraine and i was vomiting all day. I thought it was the flu until i drank some diet coke.
Gave up caffeine for the new year. First I switched to decaff and that seemed to help ward off the headaches (i knew from prior quitting attemps would soon follow.) After a week and half of drinking decaff I suddenlty stopped and it seemed to have worked like magic. I thought i had finally successfully tricked my body into giving up caffeine without experiencing the withdrawal symptons. That is until the insomnia kicked in. All of a sudden I couldn’t sleep past 4 am (I who does not like to wake up before the sun) and it made no difference how I went to bed. Every morning was accompanied with nasea and gaging feelings. Next followed a complete lack desire to workout (which I love to do) and an overall sadness/depression and loss of motivation to do anything. Even eating has seemed like a chore lately. Leading to further lack of energy and motivation. I attributed all this to being in a slump. After reading this post it brought a light that
Day 3 of giving up coffee from 8 strong cups a day. Come over here so I can hit something!!
Every single one of those symptoms and that is exactly why I want to quit even more now. Anything that has that impact on your body and mind cannot be any good for you.
All great comments above. 12 cups a day for 43 years and quit cold 8 days ago. No cravings at all but the week from hell ended on the seventh day. I endure every of the 10 symptoms except headaches, but at least I could keep food down today.I think my hair is on fire. This is worse than nicotine which is in many ways a mental workout.